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December 19, 2011
SOLO ALBUM PEEK 2, FINAL 2011 SHOW, STARBUCKS ALBUM
Dear Friends,
Happy almost shortest day of the year… I'm currently writing to you from my studio on a very late December night after a session with the incredible North Carolina band Delta Rae (http://deltarae.com). I'm producing their upcoming full length album and I'm beyond excited for you to hear it… these are some mega talented kids y'all (hanging out with them has also made me a wannabe Southerner).
FINAL SHOW OF 2011
I'm playing my last show of the year tomorrow with one of my favorite artists, Alex Berger, at one of our favorite venues, Rockwood Music Hall stage 2, for a very special Non-Denominational-Winter-Solstice-Alex-Squared extravaganza. I'm playing with a full band of talented and handsome gents: Ward Williams (cello/guitar), Tony Maceli (bass) and Elliot Jacobson (Drums). Plus, several very special guests will be making cameos throughout the evening so keep your eyes peeled…
TUESDAY DEC 20, 10PM (ALEX BERGER ON AT 9PM)
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL STAGE 2
196 ALLEN ST
FREE!!
SOLO RECORD UPDATE
My very first solo album is recorded, mastered and awaiting it's release into the wild early next year! I can't wait to share it with all of you, creating it was such a huge learning process for me and I think it resulted in some of my best work to date. I also wanted to give you guys a little Holiday present as a thank you for all of the amazing support you've shown for this and all of my projects. Here's a live acoustic performance of a brand new song off the album, "Patiently," direct from my Brooklyn studio…
You can download an mp3 of the acoustic performance for FREE (or pay any amount you want) here:
http://alexwong.bandcamp.com/track/patiently-live-at-angelhouse-studios
While you're there please check out the other songs benefitting some of my favorite charities… including my 2010 holiday song, "Make It Home", written with my friend Rachel Platten:
"CHIMES OF FREEDOM" BOB DYLAN TRIBUTE ALBUM OUT JANUARY 24TH
Last August I was asked to produce a cover of the Bob Dylan song "I Want You" with Mexican singer/songwriter Ximena Sarinana (http://ximenamusic.com)for Amnesty International's upcoming charity album, Chimes of Freedom. A few weeks ago we found out that our track was selected to be included in the Starbucks edition of the CD being sold at all of their stores (if you can manage to find one), alongside tracks by really amazing artists such as Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, The Black Keys and more! The album drops January 24th, read more about the album here:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/music-and-the-arts/chimes-of-freedom
RECENT PRODUCTION/TOURING NEWS
I've been doing a lot of touring recently playing drums with Ximena Sarinana. This year we toured much of the US, Europe and made several trips to Mexico where we got to play a festival for over 40,000 people! Check out this crazy picture…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45091862@N05/6531626845/
Back at my studio in Brooklyn things have been insane in the greatest way. I feel very honored and grateful to be busy producing 3 records right now with 3 artists I really respect and admire. in November I produced a record for Martin Rivas, one of my favorite songwriters (and human beings) in NYC. JUST WAIT until you hear this man's new songs… it was the first time I actually welled up while listening to vocal takes for a record I was working on.
This month I'm working on a full length album with the aforementioned (and still incredible) Delta Rae.. Here is a KILLER video for one of the tracks off the upcoming album called "Bottom of the River".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bimam2j2gEg
Next month I will team up once again with talented UK artist (and also aforementioned) Alex Berger (http://alexbergermusic.com) to produce his second full length album. The first one we worked on together garnered several nice accolades including two Independent Music Awards. He is currently running a RocketHub campaign to finance the record. As a completely self financed, independent artist he could use all the help he can get (SOMEone has to pay for my bi-weekly calf massages), so if you like what you hear please consider donating to support a very worthwhile artist.
http://rockethub.com/projects/4180-be-part-of-alex-berger-s-second-album
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One last gift for you - On the last trip to Mexico we formed an impromptu cover band one slightly drunken night with some other Mexican musicians. We hastily named the project Gringo Starr before realizing there were about 7 other bands with that name, although I don't think any of them can touch our Corona induced cover of Sweet Child O' Mine. So, here's my Holiday carol from me to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XwjHM728dg&list=UUTY4EsZr8K70BM8GSQvVezQ&index=1&feature=plcp
Again, looking back on 2011 I'm so grateful for your open ears this year and every year. I feel very blessed, not only to have a job at all, but to have one making the music I want to make with the people I want to make it with, and I owe that entirely to your support over the years. I truly can't thank you enough. Happy Holidays!!
Much love,
Alex Liang Wong
October 11, 2011
SOLO ALBUM PREVIEW, MODERN DRUMMER, NEW PRODUCTIONS
Dear friends,
Hope you all had an amazing Summer. This time I'm writing to you en route to Mexico City… heading down for the second time this month, to play the Corona Capital festival with Ximena Sariñana and her band. Got to do some cool new things on the last trip, including eating fried grasshoppers for the first time, and playing on my first TV show. Hopefully this time I won't get bitch slapped quite so hard by the ghost of Moctezuma. What's that you say? Ceviche de Camarones and drinks with ice? Brilliant idea!
Anyway I'm guessing you aren't here to read about microbiology. Fair enough.
**SOLO ALBUM PREVIEW**
You will undoubtedly hear more about this as I bludgeon you with promotional literature in the coming months, but right now I just wanted to share with you that as of today, MY RECORD IS MASTERED!! This was one of the most fulfilling and challenging projects I've ever worked on, and although it is my first official "solo" album, it would be nothing without massive contributions from some massively brilliant friends, including Alex Berger, Mark Bengtson, Nate Campany, Dave Eggar, Nicole Eva Emery, Joe Feidler, Paul Freeman, Brad Gordon, Ari Hest, Eddie Jackson, Drew Kapner, Kiyanu Kim, Chris Kuffner, Pete Lalish, Rachel Platten, Greg Prestopino, Kevin Rice, Amber Rubarth, Ximena Sarinana, Jay Stolar, Jeff Swart, Vienna Teng, Melissa Tong, and Adrienne and Chris Woods. And of course to those of you out there in cyberspace who offered periodic words of encouragement…
It is scheduled for a February release but please check http://www.alexliangwong.com between now and then for downloads, videos, and song teasers. In fact, there might actually be one there now. You should probably go check… http://www.alexliangwong.com
**UPCOMING SHOWS**
I have two shows coming up in October, which will be my fist time playing the material from my upcoming record with a band! The talented and handsome duo of Ward Williams (cello, guitar) and Elliot Jacobson (drums) will be joining me for both shows. Details below…
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2:30 PM
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL, STAGE 1
MPRESS RECORDS OFFICIAL CMJ SHOWCASE
FREE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 8:30 PM
ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL, STAGE 2
w/ BLEU, TRIXIE WHITLEY
FREE
**NEW PRODUCTION PROJECTS**
I'm letting my Roomba loose on all the studio floors and stocking my fridge with plenty of San Pellegrino Aranciata (creativity in a can, swear to God), as I get ready to make records with some truly exceptional artists in the coming months, including Alex Berger, Delta Rae, Anne Heaton, and Martin Rivas. I'm a huge fan of each of them and am so, so grateful to get a chance to collaborate with people I admire so much as musicians and like so much as people. Stay tuned for more about each of these artists...
I was also asked to produce a track with Ximena Sariñana for a Bob Dylan tribute album to be released by Amnesty International on December 6th. We recorded a version of his song "I Want You" from the Blonde on Blonde album. Other artists on the CD include Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and The Black Keys, so I am beyond stoked to be a part of this record… Please keep an eye out for it!
**MODERN DRUMMER**
I was recently asked to write a blog for Modern Drummer magazine. I have been a huge fan of this mag since I was 15 and still have a few boxes of back issues taking up space at my parent's house, so I may or may not have danced around like a schoolgirl when I was contacted by those guys. Thanks again to MD and Holly Garman for making this happen!
http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2011/09/alex-wong/#.TpJcdc0aDd4
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Alright, enough about me, but I wanted to share one last thing with you: I just finished reading Igor Stravinsky's autobiography from 1934 and I found this eerily relevant quote:
"In John Sebastian Bach's day it was necessary for him to walk ten miles to a neighboring town to hear Buxtehude play his works. Today anyone, living no matter where, has only to turn a knob or put on a record to hear what he likes. Indeed, it is in just this incredible facility, this lack of necessity for any effort, that the evil of this so-called progress lies. For in music, more than in any other branch of art, understanding is given only to those who make an active effort. Passive receptivity is not enough."
These days more than ever, thank you for listening.
Much Love,
Alex Liang Wong
May 27, 2011
XIMENA/RAY LAMONTAGNE, SOLO ALBUM UPDATE, BARGE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Dear friends,
Greetings from yet another airport… This time I'm at SFO in the Bay Area CA, still reeling from the emotional anguish caused by shelling out $570 for baggage fees for our equipment to board the plane. I'm heading back to NYC for a night then off to Vermont and Montreal to play some shows with Mexican artist Ximena Sarinana, opening for Ray LaMontagne and Brandi Carlile!
Lots of upcoming goodness to tell you about, but here are some quick highlights from the last couple months:
- Won 3rd place in the International Songwriting Competition for The Paper Raincoat's song, "Sympathetic Vibrations". Thanks to judges Tom Waits, Etc etc etc. NEED NAMES and to all of you who continue to support us! http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners
- Went on a lovely tour of the East Coast/Midwest playing drums with Elizabeth and the Catapult, opening for Sara Bareilles. Here's some videos of an impromptu tour dance party as well as a beautiful cultural exchange at a West Virginia Taco Bell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsRlXxvKlZ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD_f0DY_9eE
- Officially began work on my debut solo album! Those who know me know that this has been a long time coming… and one of my biggest personal goals to date. I can't thank you all enough for the encouragement and enthusiasm over the last year that convinced me it was finally time to make this record. I'm really looking forward to sharing this music with you. Here are some pics from the first week of the demo process, taken by the talented Deneka Peniston.
BARGE MUSIC FESTIVAL
I was asked by my friend and cello demigod Dave Eggar (Coldplay, Elvis Costello) to compose a modern classical piece for him and I to perform together at the Barge Music Festival in NYC. I am beyond excited to get to participate in such a prestigious classical festival, and to collaborate with one of my favorite musicians in the city. The concert is July 8th, and if you're interested to hear what we came up with, come hang with us on the beautiful brooklyn shoreline!
That's all for now. Please proceed directly to Summer.
Much Love,
Alex
@highceilings on Twitter
@martinrivas you got a sweet shout out up in here... http://t.co/TWKwWVnK
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